Distilled Spirits

Characteristics of the popular varieties of brandy and information for choosing a bottle of brandy.

Characteristics gin, the spirit of the martini and many other great cocktails.

A guide to the most popular brands of gin including value, premium and super premium gin listed by price.

Characteristics, profiles and techniques in making rum.

A guide to the most popular brands of rum including value, premium and super premium rum listed by price.

Cachaca is a distilled spirit produced in Brazil from fresh sugar cane juice and is often associated with rum and the popular cocktail, the Caipirinha.

Characteristics and varieties of tequila, the ultimate party spirit.

A guide to the most popular brands of tequila including value, premium and super premium tequila listed by price.

Learn about what distinguishes vodka from other distilled spirits, how it is made, what infused vodka is, and the many different varieties and popular brands of vodka.

Choosing the right brand of vodka can be a difficult on because cost, taste, and intended use are important factors we consider.

There are many brands of vodka and many of those go beyond the clear, "flavorless" spirit to include flavored vodkas as well. This is a guide to finding a brand which produces a particular fruit, herb and other infused vodka.

One of the latest trends in the vodka market is those that are flavored to taste like desserts and baked goods. These indulgent tasting liquors are interesting and fun to mix into cocktails.

Profile of the different types of whiskey including Irish, Scotch, Bourbon, Tennessee, Rye and Canadian. Learn the basic differences of this complex spirit.

A guide to the most popular brands of whiskey including value, premium and super premium whisky listed by style.

People frequently ask, "What is single malt whisky?" in liquor stores, restaurants and bars. The answer to "what is single malt whisky?" is deceptively simple. Single malt whisky is whisky that has been made from barley (almost always), water and yeast. In single malt whisky only one grain is used, therefore word single can be used to describe...

The differences between blended scotch whisky and single malt scotch whiskies can often be confusing. Here is an easy primer on what makes blended scotch whisky unique and different than single malt scotch whisky.

People frequently ask bartenders, "What is Irish whiskey?", and while the answer isn't simple, a broad look at the Irish whiskey category is essential to understanding the category. Irish whiskey was the most popular whiskey category in America prior to Prohibition and with a surge of interest in Irish whiskey again, it may soon return to its...

Luckily, two of America's premier craft distillers, Don Poffenroth and Kent Fleischmann, along with their assistant Patrick Donovan offer a one week intensive course on craft distilling at Dry Fly Distillery in beautiful Spokane Washington. Dry Fly is one of the true craft distillers in America, eschewing the common craft distilling practice of rectifying purchased neutral grain spirits and instead crafting all of their current product line from Washington state wheat grown on one farm.

Glenfiddich is preparing to auction off one of its rarest bottles this month to benefit Friends of Scotland, the charity founded by Sean Connery to create educational scholarships and benefit veterans of foreign wars.

Mekhong is a distilled spirit from Thailand that is made of sugar cane, rice and a secret blend of indigenous herbs.

Mexico for Visitors Guide, Suzanne Barbezat, explores tequila and the area in Jalisco, Mexico where it's produced.

Learn about what sake is, some of the myths surrounding it, the styles of sake, how to choose a good sake and how to drink sake.

Soju is a popular Korean distilled spirit that was traditionally made with rice, much like sake, but is now commonly made with a combination of rice and grains. It has a comparable taste to vodka.

The story of Clearheart Spirits, a distillery that triumphed over a natural disaster that continues to produce high quality vodka, brandy, gin and rum with plans for the future.